The area of Okhla was reverberating with the sound of Nauha (mourning songs) when thousands of devotees walked together mourning in the mild dusk of Chehlum.


Numerous women, children and young people from Amroha, Meerut, old Delhi and Okhla participated in the rally.


With the recitation of Nauha the wave of energy was spread all over. People were beating their chests and many of them had cut their bodies to feel the pain of those died in the Battle of Karbala.


Chehlum is a Shia religious observation that occurs 40 days after the Day of Ashura, as a tribute of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain Ibn Ali (as), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (saw). Imam Hussain Ibn Ali (as) and 72 supporters died in the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (680 CE).

Forty days is the customary span of mourning in many Islamic societies. Arabs call this event as ‘Arbaeen’, which means forty. Also it is known as Chehlum among Urdu-speaking Muslims.


by Babu